I turn on the radio the past year and hear songs from Eminem. Not unusual, he's talented, popular, etc. etc. BUT. I always hear his songs on Alternative ROCK radio stations. ROCK. I don't hear ANY guitars in his songs, there are no good drummers, he's not on a Linkin Park level, its Rap music. Simple as that. I can understand Justin Timberlake on a R&B station, but not Eminem. And we all know why this is, because he's white. Are there any other reasons? I hate it when I hear Pearl Jam, then RHCP, then EMINEM. It totally doesn't belong there and personally messes up the flow. I haven't heard anyone complain about this before.

Are you absolutely certain that it's alternative rock stations? I mean, Pearl Jam, RHCP, and others are not really alternative either. I think what you're talking about are "popular" radio stations that happen to play mostly rock music with Beastie Boys and Eminem thrown in. Yeah, it might have something to do with the fact that he's white, but it also has to do with the fact that he makes lots of money for the stations/advertisers. More so than any other rap star in history. I hope that when you say "he's not on a Linkin Park level" that you're talking solely about the fact that there isn't shitty guitar work and horrible rhymes in his songs... The station that I listen to the most at college is 99.9 the Buzz. They play mostly what you would call "alternative" rock, but Eminem absolutely gets played. I'm not sure about how it is where you are, but there is a real lack of genuine hip-hop radio stations in northern NY... makes me long for vacations when I get to hear Hot 97. I don't think the case is that they only play him because he's white... as you said in your second sentence, he's popular. Whatever people want to hear will eventually be played, regardless of genre. If the masses are calling for the Chieftans, then by god, the Chieftans they will get. The argument could be made that rappers like Ja Rule and Jay Z are damn popular, but for some reason don't get played on "popular" radio stations. Again, I think it all comes down to ratings and money. Eminem drew 54 million in his opening weekend at the movies. He's hot as hell right now, even after a sub-par third (fourth really) solo album. He will continue to be astronomically popular for the forseeable future. He almost fucked it all up at this year's VMA's, but that's a different story completely. My suggestion: deal with it. You're in the minority in your thinking.

(Of course, I don't mind when the alternative station plays The Beastie Boys. Although the Beastie Boys don't suck, so that probably helps their case. And our local station was playing Cypress Hill for a while, for whatever reason, and I swear I heard Outkast on there once...)

I think it really depends on your radio market. Infinity Broadcasting, which owns a lot of the major "rock" stations in the Northeast, have been playing Eminem for a while now. It seems to be an offshoot of the whole rap/rock surge a few years ago. As that genre slowly fades from rock playlists, so will Eminem. But, as Kidbrooklyn wrote, he's very popular at the moment, so I'm sure you'll hear more of him everywhere.

I don't know why an alternative station would play Jurassic 5. The Beastie Boys, and even Cypress Hill, I can understand, but why Jurassic 5?

Hey...the more J5, the better, I say!

I gave up on rap years ago...all the "bling, bling, cash money, yo" stuff just killed me. J5 brings me back to '92-'93...back to Souls of Mischief, Black Moon, Main Source, Lords of the Underground...so I'd be more then happy to hear them on any alternative station.

Eminem gets lots of play on the Edge 102.1 in Toronto, probably the first, and best, alternatve station in Canada...

The big alternative rock station here in Philly, Y100, tends to only play the newest Eminem songs, and even those they take off the playlist after a few weeks. I wish they'd play a little more of him, though. I have to either sit through the hardcore rap on one of the major rap stations, Power 99.8, or pop crap on Q102.

Lick 106.3 ("Modern Rock for Little Rock") overplays the hell out of "Lose Yourself." I'm this close to giving them a call and saying, "You know, Eminem sure is talented, and 'Lose Yourself' is a really good song, but when I turn on a station that describes itself as 'modern rock,' I don't do it with the intent of hearing rap so what the HELL is going on here?"

Originally posted by SimbaI think it really depends on your radio market. Infinity Broadcasting, which owns a lot of the major "rock" stations in the Northeast, have been playing Eminem for a while now.

Well, the station I'm referring to (WMRQ) is owned by Clear Channel, so take that for what you will. As far as I'm concerned, the only good Clear Channel's done is brought ESPN Radio to CT.

Originally posted by tomvejadaWMRQ, that's the station with Bubba the Love Sponge, isn't it?

Unfortunately. The sad part is when I have to get up for my internship, I'm usually awakened by the dulcet tones of Hogan calling in to Bubba. If only I could get ESPN Radio in my house, instead of just in the car...